What do I think or get up to as an Oracle Professional, UKOUG Volunteer, ACE Director?
These are my personal views

Friday, 20 July 2012

Costa Rica

So the final leg of the tour, San Jose, Costa Rica. We
arrived at the hotel late afternoon and having discovered that the university
where the conference was being held was jut next door e decided to relax by the
pool. That evening we asked the hotel taxi to take us somewhere local to eat
but actually it was all chains, pizza hut, a taco place, tapas and even a
Hooters! In the end we decided on Outback which seemed really expensive but the
company was good.

The conference itself was excellent 5 streams and
somewhere just short of 200 people. There were some students but most were end
users. I was meant to speak on should I upgrade or go straight o fusion but
having polled the audience decided o swap to the more generic how oracle have
changed apps development which I gave for the BCS. It seemed to go down well
and I gotthe what is happening to forms
and reports question. I think grant Ronald would have Been proud of me although
later I discovered that shay from that team was in the audience, he should have
given the answer.

The organisation was very good, with a student allocated
to each speaker to ensure we had everything we needed, drinks and snacks
available all day including a hot lunch. Nothing was too much trouble for our
hosts. That evening they found us a local restaurant which however unknown to
them did not serve alcohol, still that is what the hotel bar is for.

So the tour was over and although after weeks or more on
the road people are ready to go home, it is hard to say goodbye. This tour had it's
challenges, but also highlights and overall the user groups achieved their
objectives. What I really enjoyed was the local Oracle who travelled with us, Mauricio from Costa Rica and that lovable rogue Sergio from Brazil, and the
ACEs Plinio from Peru, Joel and Ronald from Costa Rica. Everywhere we go we try
to encourage local speakers and their participation was great.

Thank you Justin, Lillian and Viki and especially
Francisco for making it happen and to all those who welcomed me into their
conferences. I spent quality time with old friends and made new ones on the
tour. Delegates asked not many but a few questions that make doing this
worthwhile.